Traffic signal



Aug. 13, 1929. P. EBERSPACHER TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 1928 ill Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PAUL EBERSPKCHER, OF ESSLINGEN-ON-THE-NECKAR, GERMANY.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed March 6, 1928, Serial No. 259,478, and in Germany March 4, 1927.

My invention relates to traffic signals and more particularly to signals indicating the distance between a given point and another signal, for instance the distance between a railway line and said signal. It is an object of my invention to provide a signal of this kind which is not interfered with by atmospheric conditions.

To this end I provide a dark background, for instance a box having opaque walls and open at the bottom, and on the side of the box which faces the operator of a train or other vehicle, I may provide a slotted plate so that the area of the slot or slots in the F plate is picked out dark against the lighter face of the plate. Each slot would correspond to a predetermined distance, for instance 100 yards, and the number of dark areas thus indicates the distance between that signal and a signal which the driver must observe, such as a distant signal or the like. Instead of a slotted plate I preferably provide any number of strips for partly concealing the dark background, and the plate or strips may be exchangeable.

Recently signals of this kind have been provided in combination with the normal distant signal of railways and their object is to indicate to the driver the distance at which such signal is from the distant signal. Heretofore, a number of stripes corresponding to the distance, each stripe representing, for instance, a distance of 100 yards, were painted on flat tables bearing the required number of horizontal, vertical or inclined stripes, generally black against a white background. These signals involve the drawback that they are interfered with by atmospheric conditions, for instance, snow drifts, which cover up the table so as to obliterate completely the stripes or at least render it very difiicult to pick them out from the white background.

These drawbacks are overcome in my invention which is proof against any inter:- ference on the part of atmospheric conditions. In reducing my invention to practice I provide a box, for instance, of rectangular configuration, which is open at the side facing the operator of a train and also at the bottom, but preferably covered at the top. Across the open side facing the train, I provide any desired number of strips painted or enameled in any light colour, and it will be understood that the dark interior of'the box which may be painted black or some other dark colour, appears distinctly between the light strips. The number of dark bands thus displayed, multiplied by the unit each band represents, corresponds to the distance from a signal which must be observed.

Snow, sand or other bodies carried by the wind are permitted to enter the box through the clearances between the strips and drop to the ground through the opening at the bottom of the box so that they cannot clog the spaces between the strips and the dark bands will always remain visible.

In the drawing aflixed to this specification and forming part thereof a signal embodying my invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the signal.

Referring now to the drawing, a, b and 0 are the sides of the rear wall, respectively, of a rectangular box provided at the top with a roof d; e is a post to which the box is secured; Z is the open bottom of the box; f, g, h and i are plates or strips which are painted or enameled in some light colour, for instance white, and secured to the box by any suitable means, as nails or screws 75. The parallel faces of the strips, which may be inclined as shown, define openings through which the dark interior of the box is clearly visible as three bands m, n and 0. In the present instance, each dark band corresponds to 100 yards, and the signal indicates to the driver that when passing the signal he is at a distance of 300 yards from the nearest distant signal.

Instead of wood, as shown, any other material, for instance steel, or any combination of materials, may be employed. Obviously, the colour matter or enamel on the strips and on the interior of the box must be weatherproof.

I have described my signal as applied to a railway line, but it is understood that it may be used under any conditions and for any traflic where it is desirable to warn the driver of any vehicle that he is approaching a condition of things which must in fluence his course of action, and to indicate to him the distance at which he is therefrom.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim V 1. A trafiic signal for indicating the distance of the signal from a predetermined point, said signal comprising a casing having an open front, a series of members extending across said front and having exposed surfaces of a color contrasting with the color of the interior of the casing, said members being of such number and width and the spacing between said members being of such dimensions as to present to an observer the interior of the casing in a number of clearly defined areas corresponding in number to the units of distance of said signal from said predetermined point.

2. A traflic signal for indicating the distance of the signal from a predetermined point, said signal comprising a casing having an open front and bottom, a series of members extending across said front and having exposed surfaces of a color contrasting with the colorof the interior of the easing, said members being of such number and width and the spacing between said members being of such dimensions as to present to an observer the interior of the casing in a number of clearly defined areas corresponding in number to the units of distance of said signal from said predetermined point.

3. A trafiic signal for indicating the distance of the signal from a predetermined point, said signal comprising a casing having an open front, a series of detachable members extending across said front and having exposed surfaces of a color contrasting with the color of the interior of the casing, said members being of such number and width and the spacing between said members being of such dimensions as to present to an observer the interior of the casing in a number of clearly defined areas corresponding in number to the units of distance of said signal from said predetermined point.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PAUL EBERSPACHERV 

